First Aid Kit
It should have:
*Bandages
*Gauze
*First aid tape
*Hydrogen peroxide
*Antibiotic ointment
*Burn ointment
*Thermometer and/or Hypothermia thermometer
*Band-Aids
*Heat packs
*Tweezers
*Sunscreen
*Throat lozenges
*Heavy space blankets
*Antacid tablets
Wintry Weather
Is Your Rig Ready?
There are those people whose entire lives are motivated by a fanatical fixation with getting outdoors during the fall and winter. Getting there can be a problem if your vehicle is not ready. Whether you consider yourself a leaf looker, a die-hard trail master, or an avid outdoorsman, we know you already know it all. We're not here to point fingers-we're here to remind. And remind you we'll do in preparing your vehicle for the coming winter. You'll thank us when you're sitting in the toasty cab of your truck while your friends are outside winching their truck out of stuck, their cotton jacket is wet, and they're complaining about their digit popsicles. Believe it, we've been there.
Mama Says
Mama always said to keep a small pack in the vehicle as a winter safety kit. Here's what she recommends:
*Use an old backpack to put items in
*Throw rug, towel, or old shower curtain, tarp, canvas tarp
*Ice scraper
*Spare bottle of windshield washer fluid
*Boots
*Gloves
*Flares/matches
*Blankets
*Tire chains
*Hi-Lift
*Spare tire
*Flashlight/batteries
*Small roll of wire
*Water
*Jumper cables
*Basic first aid kit
*Sand, salt, or kitty litter for traction
*Nonperishable food (trail mix, dried fruit...)
*Extra set of mittens, socks, and a warm tuke (beenie)
*Pocket knife
*Several blankets
*Bottled water
*Plastic bags
*Rain gear
*Extra sweatshirt/jacket
*Small shovel
*Small tools (pliers, wrench, and screwdriver)
*Set of tire chains or traction mats big enough for your tires
Simple Things
*Check brake lights, turn signals, and headlamps, and cover up off-road lights. They all should be completely functional.
*Check hoses and belts. Get rid of old, damaged belts and hoses, and tighten loose components.
*Check antifreeze level. During the winter your water-only radiator fill might betray you by freezing your cooling system. Ideally a 50/50 mix of antifreeze and water is great. For colder weather your mix would include more antifreeze and less water. Add up to 70 percent antifreeze if you're expecting temperatures below 20 degrees F.
*Check body and floorboards for chips and holes in metal. This means rust. For the most part it's the cancer that will eventually lead to you not having anywhere to put your feet. Oh well, you didn't need the extra weight anyway.
*Check out your brakes, engine, and transmission. If you motor a lot, you already know what needs to be fixed. Get it done.
*Check your oil. Most vehicles use a standard 10W30 oil. But you should check manufacturer specs for their recommendations. And again, you should be changing your oil every 3,000 miles or three months. Get off your duff and do it.
*Check the garage floor for oil and coolant puddles. This will clue the clueless that something needs fixin'.
*Check and fill window washer fluid. And keep a bottle of it handy in the garage so you don't have to trek back to the store for a 99-cent bottle of fluid. In states where it snows, you'll use it especially if you do a lot of driving.
*Get new wiper blades. We know you should check them but why not spend the $3 now? What's better than having a perfectly clean windshield?
*Check tire pressure. Off-road vehicle users are already pretty conscious of this.
*Check tire tread. Avoid driving with bald tires in any season. Snow tires make a huge difference in traction. Check for uneven wear, damaged sidewalls, and air leaks.